How does life measure up for a 13-year old girl?
Marian with her young cast, Ailish McCarthy and Shane McDaid.
32A - this story is set in the "in-between" time of a girl's life, when she is no longer a child and not yet a woman.
Maeve takes out her very first bra bra.
Dublin 1979 - We open with our heroine, Maeve, putting on her new snow white bra for the first time, and stepping out into the world as a young woman. She has an obsession with breasts and bras and can't help but stare at other girls and women, even the head nun doesn’t escape her gaze.
The choir sings.
Otherwise, her world revolves around her three friends, Ruth, Claire and Orla, who are more experienced in the ways of the world. They wear bras already (except Claire the feminist) and they've all had boyfriends. The new bra is a start but they really hope Maeve can find a fella, even offering kissing lessons to prepare her.
The girls call for Maeve.
What no one expects, least of all Maeve, is that she should catch the eye of the local sixteen-year old heartthrob, Brian Power...
Brian and Maeve down the park at night.
Awards and Festivals (partial)
Awards
- Tiernan McBride Award for Screenwriting
- Best Feature Award, Galway Film Fleadh
- IFTA, Cinematography
Nominated for several IFTAs including Best Picture
Awards
- Tiernan McBride Award for Screenwriting
- Best Feature Award, Galway Film Fleadh
- IFTA, Cinematography
Nominated for several IFTAs including Best Picture
Premieres
- Galway Film Fleadh. 32A had it’s National Premiere in Galway where it took top honours, winning Best First Feature, July 2007
- Berlinale 08, Germany. We had our International Premiere at the Berlinale in January 2008.
Other Festival Participation for 32A
- Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, Dublin, February 2008
- New York Children’s International Film Festival, New York March 2008
- Kristiansand, Norway, April 2008
- Newport Beach Film Festival, California, April 2008
- Britspotting (four cities), Berlin, Potsdam, Cologne, Stuttgart, Germany, April - May 2008
- Eurocine 27 (representing Ireland) Brussels, Belgium, May 2008
- Seattle International Film Festival, Washington, May 2008
- Tremblant International Film Festival, Tremblant, Canada, June 2008
- Emden FilmFest, Emden, Germany, June 2008
- Newport International Film Festival, Newport, Rhode Island, June 2008
- Lights Out Film Festival, Dublin and touring nationwide, July - August 2008
- Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia, August 2008
- Woodstock Film Festival, New York, October 2008
- Cinemateca di Bologna, (Culture Ireland Screening), Italy, October 2008
- Mill Valley Film Festival, California, October 2008
- Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, October 2008
- Sao Paolo International Film Festival, Brazil, October 2008
- FICI (Film Festival of Madrid), Spain, November 2008
- Irish Cultural Centre, Paris, December 2008
- Wurzburn International Film Festival, Germany, January 2009
- Glasgow Film Festival, February 2009
- Irish Film Season at MMOCA, Madison, Wisconsin, USA, February 2009
- San Francisco Irish Film Festival, March 2009
- Wisconsin International Film Festival, March 2009
- Tel Aviv Irish Film Festival, Israel, March 2009
- Annual Irish Film Season, Metro Cinema, Edmonton, Canada, March 2009
- Irish Film Series and Symposium, Boston College, USA, April 2009
- Days of European Cinema, Prague, Brno, Olomouc, Czech Republic, April 2009
- Irish Film Festival, Tempere, Finland, September 2009
- Irish Film and Music Festival, Oulu, Finland, October 2009
- European Film Festival, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, October 2009
- European Film Festival, Abuja, Nigeria, October 2009
- Discovery Children’s Festival, Dundee, Scotland, November 2009
- European Film Festival, Ottowa, Canada, November 2009
- European Film Festival, Vancouver, November 2009
- Irish FIlm Weekend, Lithuanian Filmmaker’s Union, November 2009
- Tempere Film Festival, March 2010
- Capital Irish Film Festival Washington DC, December 2010
- Galway Film Fleadh. 32A had it’s National Premiere in Galway where it took top honours, winning Best First Feature, July 2007
- Berlinale 08, Germany. We had our International Premiere at the Berlinale in January 2008.
Other Festival Participation for 32A
- Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, Dublin, February 2008
- New York Children’s International Film Festival, New York March 2008
- Kristiansand, Norway, April 2008
- Newport Beach Film Festival, California, April 2008
- Britspotting (four cities), Berlin, Potsdam, Cologne, Stuttgart, Germany, April - May 2008
- Eurocine 27 (representing Ireland) Brussels, Belgium, May 2008
- Seattle International Film Festival, Washington, May 2008
- Tremblant International Film Festival, Tremblant, Canada, June 2008
- Emden FilmFest, Emden, Germany, June 2008
- Newport International Film Festival, Newport, Rhode Island, June 2008
- Lights Out Film Festival, Dublin and touring nationwide, July - August 2008
- Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia, August 2008
- Woodstock Film Festival, New York, October 2008
- Cinemateca di Bologna, (Culture Ireland Screening), Italy, October 2008
- Mill Valley Film Festival, California, October 2008
- Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, October 2008
- Sao Paolo International Film Festival, Brazil, October 2008
- FICI (Film Festival of Madrid), Spain, November 2008
- Irish Cultural Centre, Paris, December 2008
- Wurzburn International Film Festival, Germany, January 2009
- Glasgow Film Festival, February 2009
- Irish Film Season at MMOCA, Madison, Wisconsin, USA, February 2009
- San Francisco Irish Film Festival, March 2009
- Wisconsin International Film Festival, March 2009
- Tel Aviv Irish Film Festival, Israel, March 2009
- Annual Irish Film Season, Metro Cinema, Edmonton, Canada, March 2009
- Irish Film Series and Symposium, Boston College, USA, April 2009
- Days of European Cinema, Prague, Brno, Olomouc, Czech Republic, April 2009
- Irish Film Festival, Tempere, Finland, September 2009
- Irish Film and Music Festival, Oulu, Finland, October 2009
- European Film Festival, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, October 2009
- European Film Festival, Abuja, Nigeria, October 2009
- Discovery Children’s Festival, Dundee, Scotland, November 2009
- European Film Festival, Ottowa, Canada, November 2009
- European Film Festival, Vancouver, November 2009
- Irish FIlm Weekend, Lithuanian Filmmaker’s Union, November 2009
- Tempere Film Festival, March 2010
- Capital Irish Film Festival Washington DC, December 2010
Quotes from reviews of 32A
“Irish Artists at the top of their game.” The Irish Times
“Refreshingly simple, a coming of age drama laced with easy charm and a touch of class.” Sunday Tribune
“Irish Flck set in the 70s is just A-1.” Sunday World
“A terrific coming-of-age story and quite brilliantly realised by director Quinn.” The Examiner
“Costume, Production Design, Soundtrack are all note perfect. Superbly photographed.” Sunday Business Post.
“Perfectly cast, a great soundtrack, with the songs that bring you back.” RTE, Arts Show
“Utterly charming coming-of age drama, Irish audiences will revel in the spot on recreation of 70s Dublin.” The Irish Times
“Fantastic cast. One of the most memorable descriptions of growing up.” Daily Star
“The film’s raw emotion, honesty and intuitive use of humor combine to portray a must-see coming-of-age story. Maeve is the perfect combination of selfishness, nobility, charm and awkwardness.” Herald Record, Wisconsin
“Refreshingly simple, a coming of age drama laced with easy charm and a touch of class.” Sunday Tribune
“Irish Flck set in the 70s is just A-1.” Sunday World
“A terrific coming-of-age story and quite brilliantly realised by director Quinn.” The Examiner
“Costume, Production Design, Soundtrack are all note perfect. Superbly photographed.” Sunday Business Post.
“Perfectly cast, a great soundtrack, with the songs that bring you back.” RTE, Arts Show
“Utterly charming coming-of age drama, Irish audiences will revel in the spot on recreation of 70s Dublin.” The Irish Times
“Fantastic cast. One of the most memorable descriptions of growing up.” Daily Star
“The film’s raw emotion, honesty and intuitive use of humor combine to portray a must-see coming-of-age story. Maeve is the perfect combination of selfishness, nobility, charm and awkwardness.” Herald Record, Wisconsin
“A sweet and funny film, the attention to detail is impeccable.” RTE Guide
“Written and directed with class by Marian Quinn.” The Irish Times
“It's absolutely brilliant, I totally recommend it.” Alison Curtis, TodayFM
“Wonderfully real, moving and funny. Don't miss.” Breakingnews.ie
"32A is a great, amusing and turbulent comedy." Kinozeit, Berlin
“Written and directed with class by Marian Quinn.” The Irish Times
“It's absolutely brilliant, I totally recommend it.” Alison Curtis, TodayFM
“Wonderfully real, moving and funny. Don't miss.” Breakingnews.ie
"32A is a great, amusing and turbulent comedy." Kinozeit, Berlin
"Marian Quinn, making her directorial debut, shows a flair for bittersweet teenage romance and burgeoning friendships wth a refreshingly sincere approach... it could certainly survive in American theaters as a welcome reprimand to the male-dominated Apatow universe" Indiewire, New York
"The story's beauty lies in its simplicity. Quinn is as unpretentious as she is professional, portraying a series of recognizable situations that are bound to make viewers smile and sigh at the resurrection of childhood memories" Exberliner Magazine, Berlin
"32A is the perfectly told tale of growing up as a 13-year old girl in 1979 Ireland... the film has a refreshing lack of bells and whistles. It's just a relatable story told with extreme expertise and incredible performances from four first-time actresses" Times Record Herald, New York.
"Keenly observed and sweetly vulgar, this film offers numerous small joys and an unsentimental look back at the 80's" Chronogram Magazine, New York
"The characters were real, the parallel story lines were gripping and anyone who loved or hated their teenage years will identify.... What a movie, I loved it, loved it, loved it." Poughkeepsie Journal, New York
"The story's beauty lies in its simplicity. Quinn is as unpretentious as she is professional, portraying a series of recognizable situations that are bound to make viewers smile and sigh at the resurrection of childhood memories" Exberliner Magazine, Berlin
"32A is the perfectly told tale of growing up as a 13-year old girl in 1979 Ireland... the film has a refreshing lack of bells and whistles. It's just a relatable story told with extreme expertise and incredible performances from four first-time actresses" Times Record Herald, New York.
"Keenly observed and sweetly vulgar, this film offers numerous small joys and an unsentimental look back at the 80's" Chronogram Magazine, New York
"The characters were real, the parallel story lines were gripping and anyone who loved or hated their teenage years will identify.... What a movie, I loved it, loved it, loved it." Poughkeepsie Journal, New York
“It's brilliant, I really enjoyed it.” Ian Dempsey, TodayFM
“Movie Pick of the Week. Excellent” Irish Independent
“Performances as natural and honest as you could wish for. McCarthy shines as lead.” Indiewire
“Sweet and brightly lit coming of ager. Quinn makes a strong impression.” Variety
“Movie Pick of the Week. Excellent” Irish Independent
“Performances as natural and honest as you could wish for. McCarthy shines as lead.” Indiewire
“Sweet and brightly lit coming of ager. Quinn makes a strong impression.” Variety
A Janey Pictures / Flying Moon Production in association with the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, RTÉ, the Media Programme of the European Union, with the participation of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/Irish Film Board.
Starring Ailish McCarthy
Sophie Jo Wasson
Orla Long
Riona Smith
with Aidan Quinn, Orla Brady
and Jared Harris,
Written and Directed by Marian Quinn,
Producer Tommy Weir,
Co-producer Roshanak Behesht Nedjad,
Executive Producer James Flynn,
Line Producer Adrian Devane,
Director of Photography PJ Dillon,
Production Designer Paki Smith, Composer Gerry Leonard,
Costume Designer Driscoll Calder,
Sound Designer Lars Ginzel,
Editor Rune Schweitzer,
Script Consultant Judy Lunny,
Casting Directors Louise Kiely / Orla Fitzgerald
Maeve leaves the dance and heads home.
